BRAVE Erin Bishop suffers a condition so rare doctors have named it after her.

The disorder affecting the 12-year-old has never been medically recorded. So doctors at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, called it Erin’s Syndrome.

When Erin was born it became clear she would have difficulties eating, speaking and walking.

Her family said she displays characteristics in common with the rare genetic disorder Costello’s Syndrome.

These include distinctive facial features, curly hair and an engaging personality. Until recently she had to be fed through a tube.

But she is also unable to walk or talk. According to her family, doctors say she has a chromosome missing.

Now Erin, who lives with gran Pamela in Grove Hill, is making progress.

She can eat and has received an award from Priory Woods School for taking her first seven steps.

Erin is well known in her neighbourhood, where people often stop to say hello.

Her proud aunt Natalie has nominated her in the Evening Gazette’s Community Champions Awards as Child of Courage, sponsored by Northumbrian Water.

Gran Pamela said: “She is a very rare case because she can’t walk or talk so the doctors have called it Erin’s Syndrome.”

Doctors thought Erin had problems before she was born - and even feared she could be stillborn, said Pamela.

“She had webbing on her neck when she was born and she had a cleft lip and heart problems. For seven weeks she had different tests. They found she had 99% Costello Syndrome.”

Pamela said Erin has no speech but chats in her own language

“I know exactly what she wants and she understands me,” said Pamela.

"She is always smiling and never ever creates, even when she is poorly. She has been doing really well for quite a while. She goes to the swimming pool at school to swim and she loves being around adults.”